Rep. Hillary Scholten warns that the SAVE Act could disenfranchise married women by requiring them to update their birth certificates to match their current IDs, a claim contested by Republican lawmakers.
Rep. Hillary Scholten, a Democrat from Michigan, has raised concerns that the Republican-led SAVE Act could lead to disenfranchisement among married women. She argues that nearly 70 million married women in the United States have changed their last names after marriage, and many of them might face challenges voting unless their birth certificates are updated to reflect these changes. Scholten emphasized that in Michigan’s third district alone, approximately 167,000 women could be unable to register due to discrepancies between their current identification and their birth certificates, which often remain unchanged after marriage.
In response to Scholten's assertions, Republican lawmakers have disputed her claims. Specifically, they argue that the laws governing birth certificate changes in Michigan do not allow for amendments based on marital status. As per the guidelines from the state's Department of Health and Human Services, individuals can only modify their birth certificates to correct factual inaccuracies or to change their sex designation, which does not include changes resulting from marriage. This means that, contrary to Scholten's concerns, married women would still hold the right to vote under the existing framework.
The exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions over voter ID laws and election integrity, with both sides rallying support around differing interpretations of how proposed legislation affects voter access. As the debate rages on, it casts a spotlight on the broader issues of how legislative measures are perceived in terms of their impact on various demographics, particularly women, in the electoral process.
